About Saint Charles Borromeo [Parish of St. Charles Borromeo, Resurrection & All Saints] · New York, New York
The Parish of St. Charles Borromeo, Resurrection & All Saints is a historic Roman Catholic community in Harlem, New York, founded in 1888 to serve the growing population north of 135th Street. Today the parish worships across two buildings — the Gothic St. Charles Church at 211 West 141st Street (often called the 'Cathedral of Harlem') and the Chapel of the Resurrection in West 151st Street — and is a bilingual (English/Spanish), African-American-tradition parish in the Archdiocese of New York. Known nationally for Pope John Paul II's 1979 visit to its Black Catholic community, the first Jazz Mass in New York (1966), and the papally-honored leadership of Bishop Emerson J. Moore, it remains an active, welcoming, anti-racist parish guided by Catholic Social Teaching.
- Established
- 1888
- Patron
- St. Charles Borromeo
- Rector
- Rev. Willem Klaver, MHM
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of New York
Why belong here
St. Charles Borromeo welcomes everyone — regardless of background, race, ancestry, gender identity, sexuality, or social class — into a parish rooted in African-American Catholic tradition and enriched today by bilingual English/Spanish worship across two historic Harlem worship sites. Daily Eucharist, an active faith-formation program, an RCIA process, vibrant choirs (Amen, Gospel Lites, Men's, Spanish), Liturgical Dancers, the Knights of Peter Claver, St. Vincent de Paul, and a social-justice ministry offer something for every age and calling. As the parish's mission states, it aims to be 'an anti-racist parish which resists injustice by speaking truth to power in a Spirit of active non-violence,' making it a natural spiritual home for anyone seeking a community of faith, justice, and cultural heritage in Harlem.
Mass times at Saint Charles Borromeo [Parish of St. Charles Borromeo, Resurrection & All Saints]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 7:00 PM (at Resurrection, per Archdiocese of NY schedule listing)
Adoration times
- Saturday 7:00 PM (at Resurrection, per Archdiocese of NY schedule listing)
Parish History
St. Charles Borromeo's story begins in 1888, when Archbishop Michael Corrigan established the parish to serve the new development north of 135th Street. The first pastor, Rev. Dr. Charles O'Keefe, celebrated Mass in a storefront at 2660 Eighth Avenue on January 29, 1888, and the first church followed on November 4, the feast of St. Charles Borromeo. The Gothic 'Cathedral of Harlem' was completed in 1904, the same year the Sisters of Charity opened a school in the old church. The parish became nationally significant through its embrace of Harlem's African-American Catholics, the pioneering first Jazz Mass in New York (1966), and Pope John Paul II's 1979 pastoral visit. Under Monsignor Wallace A. Harris (1989-2010) the parish grew explosively and absorbed Resurrection as a chapel. In May 2015 the parish merged with All Saints Church. Today it continues as a bilingual, African-American-rooted Catholic community under a Mill Hill Missionary pastor.
- Founded 1888 by Archbishop Michael Corrigan
- First pastor Rev. Dr. Charles O'Keefe
- Gothic 'Cathedral of Harlem' built 1904
- Pope John Paul II visited October 2, 1979
- First Black Monsignor in U.S. — Rev. Emerson J. Moore (1978)
- Merged with All Saints May 8, 2015
Mission, Vision, and Welcome
Our Parish resides in two historic Harlem churches and has been a spiritual home to generations of Catholic families since 1888. Our Catholic worship is enriched by African American traditions and has benefited, since its founding, from a variety of cultural influences. At present we are a bilingual Parish having an English and Spanish-speaking congregation. Our prime mission is to bring people closer to God and to worship and praise God as a Church family in a Spirit of thanksgiving as at Sunday Mass.
- Bilingual English/Spanish Roman Catholic community
- Rooted in African-American Catholic tradition
- Open to all regardless of background, race, ancestry, gender identity, sexuality, or social class
- An anti-racist parish committed to Catholic Social Teaching
Faith Formation and Religious Education
At Baptism, parents accept the responsibility of teaching and nurturing their children in the Catholic faith — a responsibility shared by the church family through St. Charles Borromeo's Religious Education Program. Sunday school classes for K–8 meet after the 10:00 AM Mass in the school cafeteria (children receive snacks and then move to classrooms); dismissal is at 1:15 PM. The parish also runs separate Confirmation and RCIA (adult initiation) processes.
- Religious Education for grades K through 8
- Sunday classes after the 10:00 AM Mass, dismissal at 1:15 PM
- Classes begin in September
- Confirmation Program (Letisha Noel and Br. William Sherlog, CFC)
- RCIA Coordinators: Deacon Michel Hodge and Stacey Hodge
Parish Ministries and Groups
The parish supports over twenty active ministries serving worship, formation, fellowship, and outreach in Harlem. Liturgical ministries include Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministry, Lector Ministry, and Liturgical Dancers; music is led by multiple choirs (Amen, Gospel Lites, Men's, and the Spanish Choir at Resurrection). Service and community groups include Catholic Women of Harlem, Holy Name, Knights of Peter Claver, St. Vincent de Paul, Lazarus Project, Health Ministry, Social Justice, and the New Media Ministry. Youth are served by the SPIRIT Youth Group (ages 12–17) and the Youth Alliance (third-Sunday gathering after 10 AM Mass).
- Altar Rosary Society, Holy Name, Knights of Peter Claver, Catholic Women of Harlem
- Choirs: Amen, Gospel Lites, Men's, Spanish Choir at Resurrection
- St. Vincent de Paul, Lazarus Project, Social Justice, Health Ministry
- SPIRIT Youth Group (ages 12–17); Youth Alliance
- Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministry, Lector Ministry, Liturgical Dancers
- Women of Faith (Resurrection Chapel)
- New Media Ministry, Praise & Worship
Parish Staff
The parish is staffed by a pastor, parochial vicar, weekend associate, deacons, religious brothers and sisters, and a team of lay pastoral, administrative, and music staff. Religious education and sacramental preparation are coordinated by designated parish leaders.
- Rev. Willem Klaver, MHM — Pastor
- Rev. Benedict Ohanga — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Bryan Massingale — Weekend Associate
- Deacon Rodney A. Beckford
- Deacon Michel Hodge
- Br. William Sherlog, CFC — Confirmation Coordinator
- Sr. Dorothy Hall, OP — Pastoral Associate
- Dr. BrVon Neal — Director of Music
- David Sorden — Business Manager
- Pam Smith — Parish Administrative Assistant
- Tulip Bain-Rock — Office Administrative Assistant
- Darren Johnson — Sacristan
- Dr. Monica White — Religious Education Coordinator
- Letisha Noel — Confirmation Coordinator
- Joseph Salerno — Director of Religious Education, Resurrection
- Stacey Hodge & Deacon Michel Hodge — RCIA Coordinators
Contact and Office Information
Parish business and sacramental matters are handled through the St. Charles Borromeo Rectory. Office hours run weekdays with weekend reception for parish needs.
- Address: 211 W 141st Street, New York, NY 10030-1797
- Phone: (212) 281-2100
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:00 PM; Weekend Reception Sat 9:00 AM–3:00 PM and Sun 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
- Resurrection Chapel: 276 W 151st Street, New York, NY 10039
Worship Sites — St. Charles Borromeo & Resurrection Chapel
The Parish of St. Charles Borromeo, Resurrection & All Saints worships at two historic Harlem sites: St. Charles Borromeo Church at 211 West 141st Street (the 1904 Gothic 'Cathedral of Harlem') and the Chapel of the Resurrection at 276 West 151st Street, which ceased to be an independent parish and became a chapel of St. Charles during Monsignor Wallace A. Harris's tenure. All Saints was merged into the parish on May 8, 2015. Together the sites serve a bilingual, African-American-heritage Catholic community in central Harlem.
- St. Charles Borromeo Church — 211 W 141st St (1904 Gothic)
- Chapel of the Resurrection — 276 W 151st St (since c. 2008 chapel of St. Charles)
- All Saints — merged into parish May 8, 2015
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Dr. Charles O'Keefe1888-
Founding pastor; offered first Mass in a storefront at 2660 Eighth Avenue on January 29, 1888.
- Monsignor Francis H. Wall
Invited the La Salle Christian Brothers to teach the older boys in 1915.
- Rev. Walter McCann1926-
Famed preacher of the Mission Band; led the New York Apostolate to Harlem; conversions reached 339 in a single year.
- Monsignor Cornelius Drewpost-WWII to 1962
Led the parish through the post-war era; had remarkable political sense, liturgical interest, and concern for the poor. Drew-Hamilton Houses housing projects were named in his honor after his death in 1962.
- Monsignor Owen J. Scanlon
Oversaw the opening of the new 16-classroom parish school in 1964; later volunteered to resign to promote Black leadership.
- Rev. Harold Salmon
His appointment marked the beginning of the Harlem Vicariate uniting seven area churches.
- Rev. Edward Dugan
Predecessor to Father Moore.
- Rev. Emerson J. Moore1975-1982
First African-American pastor of St. Charles; first Black Monsignor in the United States (1978); named Auxiliary Bishop of New York by Pope John Paul II in 1982.
- Monsignor Wallace A. Harris1989-2010
Third Regional Vicar of Central Harlem; explosive parish growth; oversaw merger of Resurrection as a chapel of St. Charles.
- Rev. Philip Amankwa-Danquah2008-
Assumed role of Parish Administrator after Msgr. Harris' unexpected departure; provided stability during transition.
- Rev. Gregory Chisholm, SJ2010-2021
Native Harlem Jesuit; appointed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan in July 2010.
- Rev. Timothy S. Wiggins2021-2022
Installed as Pastor on November 7, 2021; had served as a seminarian at St. Charles under Msgr. Harris from 1999-2002.
- Rev. Willem Klaver, MHM2022-Present
Mill Hill Missionary from the Netherlands; previously Parish Administrator at St John the Evangelist & Our Lady of Mount Carmel in White Plains.